Tickets are $14 for adults or two adults for $20, and $5 for children.

Performers include: Lucio, a guest artist from South America, considered the clown prince of comedy; an aerial ballet with Ms. Rebecca and La Francie; Paulo, a juggling 11-year-old; Scott and his unrideable mule; and the magical Pony Fantasy of Fairies with Miss Desiree.

BookHouse, Eastern Monroe Public Library's series of cultural events, will welcome the musical trio Simple Gifts for a concert at 7:30 p.m. today.

Simple Gifts will perform an evening of international folk music featuring 12 musical instruments. Following the concert, Simple Gifts will collaborate with the Pocono Dulcimer Club in presenting a spoons workshop and jam session, with all concert attendees invited to participate.

Three women plus 12 instruments equals one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage. Drawing on an impressive variety of ethnic folk styles, this award-winning trio plays everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer frailachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style.

Based in the hills of central Pennsylvania, these women play an amazing array of instruments. Linda Littleton, Rachel Hall and Karen Hirshon switch with ease among two violins, concertina, mandolin, banjolin, recorders, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, baritone fiddle, guitar, piano and percussion.

For information, visit www.simplegiftsmusic.com.

Admission is free, and open to all. Refreshments will be available for a small charge.

All BookHouse programs take place in the Edinger Community Room of Hughes Building, Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 N. Ninth St., Stroudsburg. For information, call Rob Ramos at (570) 421-0800, ext. 30, or visit www.monroepl.org/bookhouse.

Slate Belt Ministerium is sponsoring a community festival, "People Helping People," from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Apple Blossom Village in Mount Bethel.

The festival will include games and activities for all ages, live entertainment and food booths. The suggested donation is $5.

One of the highlights of the day will be a tug of war between the Bangor and Pen Argyl football teams. There will be pony and train rides, face painting, crafts to make, sports contests, a dessert competition, puppet show, magic act, petting farm and live music.

The purpose of the event is to raise money for the Outreach Fund of the Slate Belt Ministerium, an association of almost 30 churches in the Bangor and Pen Argyl school districts. In 2008, the Ministerium helped more than 40 families and individuals with more than $10,000 in assistance for rent, utilities and other emergencies.

Apple Blossom Village is just outside Mount Bethel at 690 Allegheny Road.

Information: www.appleblossomvillage.com or www.firstumcbangor.com.

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